[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 23 (Friday, February 3, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5799-5800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1464]


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CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD

40 CFR Part 1604


Accident Investigation Initiation Notice and Order To Preserve 
Evidence; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is 
extending the period for comment on the proposed rule entitled, 
``Accident Investigation Initiation Notice and Order to Preserve 
Evidence,'' which was published in the Federal Register on January 4, 
2006 (71 FR 309).

DATES: Written comments now must be received on or before March 6, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments concerning the proposed 
rule, by the following method:
     Mail / Express delivery service: Chemical Safety and 
Hazard Investigation Board, Office of General Counsel, Attn: 
Christopher Warner, 2175 K Street, NW., Suite 650, Washington, DC 
20037.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Warner, 202-261-7600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 4, 2006, the CSB published in the 
Federal Register (71 FR 309) a proposed rule that would establish the 
means by which the CSB will preserve accident scenes/sites, and the 
evidence within those sites. The proposed rule is centered around a 
procedure by which the CSB may issue a written ``Notice of Accident 
Investigation Initiation and Order to Preserve Evidence.'' The CSB is 
proposing this rule to address critical issues surrounding evidence 
preservation, so that CSB investigators have the fullest possible 
opportunity to determine the causes of chemical accidents to which they 
are deployed. The proposed rule provided for a 30-day comment period, 
to end on February 3, 2006.
    After publication of the proposed rule, the CSB received requests 
for a 60-day extension of the comment period from three trade 
associations--the American Petroleum Institute, The Fertilizer 
Institute, and the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers 
Association. Another private sector firm, ORC Worldwide, requested a 
30-day extension. The reasons cited in support of additional time for 
comments included a need to more thoroughly evaluate the proposed rule, 
a need to obtain and review relevant background materials, and a need 
for member companies to review and discuss the proposed rule. The CSB 
also received a request for a 60-day comment period extension from one 
government agency, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, which cited the complexity of the issues presented by 
the proposed rule.
    The CSB carefully reviewed these requests and considered the 
reasons for a comment period extension cited therein. The CSB also 
considered the importance of maintaining a timely rulemaking process, 
in light of the direct impact the proposed rule would have on the 
agency's core mission investigative activities. The CSB has thus 
determined that a 30-day extension of the comment period is reasonable 
and sufficient. Written comments on the proposed rule must now be 
received by March 6, 2006.


[[Page 5800]]


    Dated: January 30, 2006.
Christopher W. Warner,
General Counsel.
 [FR Doc. E6-1464 Filed 2-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6350-01-P